Solid-liquid separation aims to increase the solids concentration. The dewatering extent can be parameterized through the compressive yield stress, p(y)(phi) whereby to further consolidate a suspension, higher stress has to be applied to the material. In a variety of dewatering devices, shear (in addition to unilateral compression) is applied to the material and is demonstrated to be of benefit to the process, albeit without a basis for optimisation. To address this fundamental issue, two novel measurement techniques, namely the Vane-in-a-Filter (ViaF) and the Vane-under-Compressional-Loading (VuCL), are presented, allowing measurement of the shear stress response with different normal loads under fixed solids concentrations. Furthermore, high solid concentration shear yield stress measurements are possible. The results demonstrate that the shear stress response increases with normal load (at a fixed state of compression) and the peak shear stress has a minimum at shear rates of 0.01-0.1 s(-1). Graphical abstract